SOLD OUT: Xfinity race at Rockingham Speedway to feature packed stands

ROCKINGHAM — The grandstands on the frontstretch of Rockingham Speedway will be packed with patrons Saturday for the N.C. Education Lottery 250.

Race promoter Track Enterprises announced early Tuesday that tickets for the April 19 double-header featuring the ARCA Menards Series East and NASCAR’s Xfinity Series have sold out.

A press release issued Tuesday notes that the anticipation of NASCAR’s return to the Rock — after more than a decade for the Craftsman Truck Series and twice that for Xfinity — “has been met with an overwhelming response by enthusiastic fans…”

“Excitement continues to build, and this news reinforces what we knew all along — race fans are delighted to have NASCAR back at Rockingham Speedway,” Track Enterprises President Bob Sargent said in a statement. “Wow! When’s the last time a NASCAR Xfinity Series race was sold out of grandstand tickets? We want to thank the entire community, and the thousands of fans that have spoken with their support, to show the world NASCAR is back at The Rock.” 

Track Enterprises announced its partnership with the speedway and the return of the two NASCAR series in late August of 2024, with the ARCA addition coming in October.

Since that time, there have been two tests at the track: one, a private tire test in November for Goodyear featuring Xfinity drivers Justin Allgaier (2024 series champion), Sheldon Creed and Brandon Jones, and four-time Rockingham winner Jamie McMurray testing for ARCA; and an organizational test for drivers in both the Xfinity and truck series.

Just days before the latter, Kasey Kahne announced he would be returning behind the wheel of the No. 33 car for Richard Childress Racing in the Xfinity race. Kahne stepped away from NASCAR in 2018 due to dehydration issues.

“I saw this Rockingham race pop up and I was like, ‘Man, that’s a track I know and I’ve enjoyed racing at over the years,’” Kahne said about his decision to join the field. “So I started reaching out and trying to figure out a way to get back into it.”

Kahne placed second behind Matt Kenseth in the 2004 Cup Series race — the last in that series at the Rock — and won the 2012 truck race.

Late Monday, NASCAR released the driver lists for both of its sanctioned races.

Joining Kahne racing for RCR will be Jesse Love and Austin Hill, while Allgaier, Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith and Connor Zillisch will be piloting for JR Motorsports.

Other drivers confirmed for the race are:

• Creed and Samy Mayer for Haas Factory Team
• Parker Retzlaff, Brennan Poole and Vicente Salas for Alpha Prime Racing
• Patrick Emerling and Garrett Smithley for SS-Green Light Racing
• Daniel Dye,Josh Williams and Christian Eckes for Kaulig Racing
• Jones, William Sawalich, Justin Bonsignore and Taylor Gray for Joe Gibbs Racing
• Jeb Burton, Blaine Perkins, Katherine Legge and Austin Green for Jordan Anderson Racing
• Greg Van Alst (and an to be determined driver) for Joey Gase Motorsports
• Kris Wright for Our Motorsports
• Harrison Burton for AM Racing
• Dean Thompson for Sam Hunt Racing
• Kyle Sieg for RSS Racing
• Anthony Alfredo for Young’s Motorsports
• Nicholas Sanchez for Big Machine Racing
• Jeremy Clements for Jeremy Clements Racing
• Thomas Annunziata for Cope Family Racing
• Ryan Ellis and Josh Billicki for DGM Racing x JIM
• Dawson Cram from Mike Harmon Racing
• Matt DiBenedetto for Viking Motorsports

According to the list, Legge will be ineligible for points.

Thompson will be in downtown Rockingham on Thursday signing autographs at Thunderfest. The autograph session for Xfinity drivers on race day is scheduled for 10-10:45 a.m. in the Fan Zone at the track.

ARCA practice and qualifying  is schecduled for 10-10:30 a.m., with Xfinity qualifying at 11:30 a.m.

The N.C. Education Lottery 250 is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, following the Rockingham ARCA 150 at 1 p.m.

Tickets are still available for the Black's Tire 200 on Friday.

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